No More Learning

In the endless ennui

Of this empty land,

The blurred snow

Gleams like sand.

Parsifal

Parsifal has conquered the girls, their sweet

Chatter, amusing lust - and his inclination,

A virgin boy's, towards the Flesh, tempted

To love the little tits and gentle babble;

He's conquered lovely Woman, of subtle

Heart, showing her cool arms, provoking breast;

He's conquered Hell, returned to his tent,

With a weighty trophy on his boyish arm.

With the lance that pierced the sacred Side!

He's cured the king, here he's king, abides,

And priest of the quintessential holy Treasure.

Worships in golden robes, a symbol, glory's home,

Vessel where the true Blood shines, the pure,

- And, O those children's voices singing in the dome!

Note: The last line is quoted by Eliot, in French, in The Wasteland (with reference to the Fisher King) as is the second line of De Nerval's El Desdichado.

The sky's above the roof. . . .

The sky's above the roof

So blue, so calm!

A tree above the roof

Waves its palm.

The bell in the sky you see

Gently rings.

A bird on the tree you see

Sadly sings.

My God, my God, life's there,

Simple and sweet.
A peaceful rumbling there,

The town's at our feet.

- What have you done, O you there

Who endlessly cry,

Say: what have you done, there

With youth gone by?

A Poor Young Shepherd

I'm afraid of a kiss

Like the kiss of a bee.

I suffer like this

And wake endlessly.

I'm afraid of a kiss!

Yet I love Kate

And her sweet gaze.

She's delicate

With a long pale face.

Oh! How I love Kate!

It's Saint Valentine's Day!

I must, I don't dare

Tomorrow, they say. . .

It's a dreadful affair

Is Saint Valentine's Day!

She's promised to me,

Fortuitously!

But the difficulty

For a lover, poor he,

With his darling to be!